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AG Kim Wilson announced new legislation to be tabled to make parents liable under civil law for the criminal acts of their children (http://www.royalgazette.com/rg/Article/article.jsp?articleId=7da1b4e30030002&sectionId=60)!

What a hair brained idea that one is.  With the huge number of absentee fathers in Bermuda, I can just see the police being swamped rounding up dudes to stuff in jail.

As well as that stupidity, the AG announced new laws proposed which will further limit the civil liberties of the public:

- give Police the power to disperse groups of people “hanging out”
- Hoodies and face scarves to be confiscated
- allow Police to close down licensed premises for up to 24 hours without the permission of a JP

The article in the RG goes on to say, "Premier Ewart Brown told the media that members of his Cabinet had been working 24/7 to produce the plan in response to the recent gang violence and gun murders."

24/7?

What bullshit... yet who even raises an eyebrow?   :-X

Wake up Bermuda!

How can this possibly work? 

It must be my crazy pills again...cuz it seems like no one is paying attention.

CC

Ah that's what it is!  The AG has been into the Captain's Crazy Pills...  :wacko:

I suggest Capt. Cannuck put a new lock on his cabinet. Then again...he keeps sending em too Bermudan............ :slap: :slap:

It's good to see Sheelagh Cooper going on record (http://www.royalgazette.com/rg/Article/article.jsp?articleId=7da1e2f3003000a&sectionId=60) against this plan. 

"My initial reaction is that this is grandstanding. It's utterly ridiculous. It illustrates a complete lack of willingness to examine the real causes behind these problems."

Ms Cooper said the Protection of Children Act 2000 already meant parents could be fined or jailed for neglect or for allowing a child to become involved in criminal activity. "At least with that legislation, it's the judge who makes the decision, not the social worker."

Good point...

Demonstrating her ability to do the back-stroke in a rip tide, AG Kim Wilson explains the $10,000 fines for parents will be applied "sensibly" (http://www.royalgazette.com/rg/Article/article.jsp?articleId=7da20b330030011&sectionId=60).   :slap:

In the next breath, she goes on to explain the difference between how the law views two teen agers busted for possession of the evil weed: somehow the parents who provide provide a safe place for their child to use smoke their spliff are the bad ones.

Before the self-righteous jump on me for 'condoning a child using marijuana' get a grip on yourself.  My position is clear: cannabis is a real drug and should be used responsibly, which means not by children and never smoked.  But, unlike Mrs Wilson, I recognize that in the real world things don't run to the ideal and application of ill-conceived laws are rarely enforced sensibly.